WOODS CROSS – Birds are one of the more popular species to hunt in Utah once deer season is over.

Along with dove, geese and other migratory birds, They are considered one of the most participated hunts during the summer and early fall months.

Starting this fall hunters can now add crows on the list of birds they can take down.

In a board meeting in early June, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources approved Utah’s very first crow hunt. They also approved changes in the number of Canada geese and doves hunters will be able to take.

Blair Stringham, a migratory game bird coordinator for DWR, said the main reason behind the approved crow hunt is due to the increase in population of crows in the state.

Based on a number of surveys taken between 1990 and 2011, biologists found that the number of crows along the Wasatch Front increased from 400 to 2,400.

A breeding survey also showed an increase in the birds, leading to the decision to create a crow hunt this year.

“Not every crow in Utah was spotted during the survey, but the trend in the survey results shows crow populations are increasing in the state,” Stringham said in a press release sent to the Clipper. “Taking some will not hurt the overall population.”

Utah will now join 45 other states hold a crow hunt.

The 2014 season will run from Sept. 1-Sept. 30 and again from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28. More information can be found in the 2014-2015 upland game and turkey guidebook. It can be downloaded at wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks in mid-July.

Also approved is the number of mourning doves and white-winged goose hunters can take this season.

The hunt will also be extended.

A total of 15 combined mourning doves and white-winged doves per day may be taken for the fall hunt. A total of four Canada geese may be taken per day as well.

Canadian geese in the West have steadily increased in population over the past 50 years, which allows hunters the opportunity to take more this year.

A multi-year dove hunting survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also showed that regulated hunting doesn’t hurt the population of either dove species.